MDC P.E.R.T. Exam & Solutions

~ ..Miami Dade .,. College

Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday 8:30Ac"l to 1:00PM Wednesday 8:30AM to 6:00PM

'riday 8:30 to 12:30PM

PERT (postsecondary Education Readiness Test)

Study Guide

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Introduction

The purpose of Florida's Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (p.E.R. T.) is to adequately assess your academic skills in mathematics, reading and v.nting through the delivery of three assessments, one for each ofthese areas. The results of these assessments are used to determine your placement into appropriate courses at your college.

You cannot pass or fail the P .E.R. T. - it is only used to determine which courses are best for you. 'Wlrile it doesn't impact your grades, we encourage you to take the P.E.R.T. seriously so that your course placement is accurate.

How the P.E.R.T. Works

The P.E.R.T. assessments are computer-adaptive, which means the questions are chosen based on your answers to previous questions. You will not be permitted to change your answer once you have moved on to the next question or leave a question unanswered. However, all of the P.E.R.T. assessments are untimed so you have as much time as you need to conSider each question before submitting your answer. Ifyou do not know the answer to a specific question, you are encouraged to try and answer the question by eliminating one or more ofthe answer options and then select from the remaining choices.

You will not be allowed to bring a calculator with you; however, for certain questions, a pop-up calculator will be available for your use. Check with your college testing center for what to bring or not to bring with you on test day.

Your scores on each assessment will be'available immediately after you submit and your college will provide you with the results.

Test Taking Tips

• 'Prepare Take practice assessments and study areas ofweakness.

• Read the directions carefully When you take the assessments, make sure to take your time and carefully follow the instructions for each question.

• Usc reasoning when answering 1. Identify the key phrase in the question. 2. Try to find the correct answer before you read all the choices. 3. Eliminate the choices that you know are not correct. 4. Read all the choices and pick the best answer.

• Review

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• Synthesizing infonnation from multiple relevant sources

• Conveying complex infonnation clearly and coherently

• Representing and accurately citing data, conclusions, and opinions of others

• . Establishing a substantive claim and acknowledging competing arguments or infonnation.

• Conceptual and Organizational Skills - recognizing effective transitional devices v.ithin the context ofa passage

• Word Choice Skills - recognizing commonly confused or misused words aild phrases

• Sentence Structure Skills - using modifiers correctly; using coordination and subordination effectively; and recognizing parallel structure

• Grammar, Spelling, Capitalization and Punctuation Skills - avoiding inappropriate shifts in verb tense and pronouns; maintaining agreement between pronoun and antecedent; and using proper ease fonns, adjectives and adverbs

What should you expect? The following section provides an overview of the type of infonnation you "'ill need to know to perfonn well on the subj ect area assessments but it is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all content to be tested.

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Math Sample Questions:

1. Which of the following is a solution to the equation c + (4 - 3c) - 2 = 07

A. -1 B. 0 C. 1 D. 2

·2. Graph the solution ofy - 2 > 1 on a number line.

A. of I ! I I II I I I II I • I : ! I j I • -10 -5 0 5 10

B. of! I I I I I : : I I II : : I II ! I ! i' -10 -5 0 5 10

C. I II I I . ! : , I I : • I I I II I I I I • -10 -5 0 5 10

D.• II . I I II:) I I III I I II : : i : • -10 -5 0 5 10

3. Which of the following is a solution to the equation J- - 6x + 5 = O?

A. x=-5

B. x -1 1

C. x !;j

D. x 5

4. What is the value of the algebraic expression ifx = ~ ,y= -1, and z 2?

6x()lz)

A. -12 B. -6 C. 1 D. 6

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9. What percent of the grid is shaded?

A.35% B. 40% C.45% D.55%

10. Which of the following is the equation of a line that passes through (-2, -1) and (-4, -3)?

A. y=!x+l

B. y=x+ 1 t

C. y=2x-l

D. y=x-l

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From these beginnings, Benjamin West became a great and famous painter. In 1763 he moved to England and never returned to America. Although he taught himself to paint, he was happy to teach younger artists, especially ones who traveled from the United States to study with him. For this reason, West is often called the father of American art.

1. Which of the following statements is the best summary of this selection?

A. Benjamin West drew pictures ofhis niece and a robin. Then, he became interested in painting instead.

B. As a young child, Benjamin West loved to draw and paint He grew up to become a great and fumous painter.

C. Benjamin West taught himself to draw. Then some Indian friends aud his parents gave him painting supplies.

D. A minister predicted that Benjamin West would do great things someday. His parents soon discovered that Benjamin was special.

2. How is the information in this selection organized?

A. In chronological order B. As a list of problems and solutions C. In a series ofquestions and answers D. From least important to most important

3. As it is used in this selection, the word secure means-

A. free from danger. B. to take or get. C. sure or certain. D. to fasten or hold tight

4. The author's main purpose in writing this selection was to-

A. persuade young artists to keep drawing. B. show that art supplies can be made from everyday things. C. entertain with a story about a young artist. D. inform readers about art long ago.

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6. In what way were the two voyages described in this selection alike?

A. Heyerdah1 used the same boat for both voyages. B. Heyerdahl was trying to prove the same theory on both voyages. C. Both voyages followed the same route. D. Both voyages succeeded on the first attempt.

7. According to this passage, the purpose of Heyerdahl's first voyage in 1947 was to

A. sail across the Atlantic Ocean in a reed boat. B. prove you can become famous by sailing long distances. C. leam how to build a simple raft of balsa wood. D. show that the Polynesians could have crossed the Pacific Ocean.

Read the selection and answer the questions that follow.

Sacajawea Saves the Day

The baby squirmed in his basket, and Sacajawea hummed quietly to soothe him. At three months old, he was a strong, healthy child and was already used to life in the wilderness. The young mother knew the little boy would soon fall into a peaceful sleep,

. lulled by the rocking motion of the river. Sacajawea closed her eyes and rested. She carried little Pompy on her back night and day, yet she never failed to keep up with her companions. Under the leadership of Lewis and Clark, she and a large band of men were on a great journey to explore the western wilderness.

for now, things were going well. Just that morning Sacajawea had found an abundant supply of edible roots--enough to satisfY the hunger of all the men in the group. Captain Clark had praised her warmly and recorded the event in his journal. The men, at first suspicious of the Shoshone woman with the child, now welcomed her as an important member of the group.

Sacajawea dozed quietly until a sudden clap of thunder awakened her. Rain began to fall, and a sudden strong wind nearly knocked her over. The boat tipped. Bundles of supplies slid toward the water. Suddenly the boat overturned, and Sacajawea fell into the river. She struggled to keep Pompy's head above the rushing water. Captain Clark shouted; another man screamed. Sacajawea reached for her son, strapped in the basket on her back. A wail told her that he was fine, though cold and wet.

The water was not deep, but the current was strong. The men worked frantically to right the overturned boat. No one but Sacajawea noticed the bundles bobbing in the water. As they spun farther away from the boat, Sacajawea grabbed an overhanging branch, and quickly lowered the branch to trap the bundles. When the boat was finally right-side up, Sacajawea quietly placed the precious bundles inside.


Writing:

Review basic v.Titing rules such as errors in word choice, punctuation and capitalization. You may want to look over materials on when and how apostrophes and commas should be used as well as reviewing common sentence structure errors.

Writing Sample Questions:

Read the selection about American astronaut Sally Ride and answer the question.

(I) Some of the greatest success stories in American history began with failure. (2) Take the case of SaUy Ride. (3) When Ride was a young girl in Encino, California, her goal was to become a professional tennis player. (4) She dropped out of college and practiced hard to become a tennis pro. (5) In time, she realized that she would never be good enoughto compete with the best tennis players. (6) She returned to college and studied astrophysics.

(7) One day in 1977, while working on her PiLD. at Stanford University, Ride read that NASA was looking for astronauts. (8) She applied and was one of six women accepted into tlie space program. (9) Ride trained to be an astronaut longer and harder than she had ever done anything in her life. (10) By the early 1980s, soe was part ofthe space shuttle program. (11) In 1983, as a member of the crew of the space shuttle Challenger, Sally Ride became the first American woman to journey into space.

(12) Ride was getting ready for another mission when the Challenger exploded in 1986, killing the Whole crew. (13) One of them was a New Hampshire high school teacher named Christa McAuliffe. (14) Ride was appointed to a special commission that investigated the tragic accident. (15) A year later she retired from NASA and returned to California, where she taught college. (16) Since then, she has been involved in several organizations that encOurage girls who are interested in science and math.

1. '\¥lllch sentence does NOT belong in the selection?

A. Sentence 4 B. Sentence 6 C. Sentence 13 D. Sentence 15


B. Abby decided to order the roasted garlic potatoes with dinner. C. Deciding to order with dinner, the roasted garlic potatoes were what Abby decided

on. D. Ordered with dinner, Abby decided on the roasted garlic potatoes.

6. In researching granite, a research paper is located that includes the following information;

Granite is a hard, coarse rock. It is formed by the slow cooling ofmagma under the earth's surface. 'The main minerals in granite are quartz and feldspar. It contains smaller amounts of mica and hornblende.

Granite's hardness makes it a popular building stone. It can be polished to a shiny finish and will stand up to centuries of weathering.

Which of the following notes should be taken to reference what granite is made of?

A. Granite is hard and coarse. B. Granite forms under the surface of the earth. C. Granite can be polished and is a popular building stone. D. Granite contains quartz, feldspar, mica, and hornblende.

7. Choose the word or words that best complete the sentence.

Until it was actually mapped, oniy a few people ____ the true location of the tunnel.

A. knew B. know C. have known D. willknow

8, Choose the word that best completes the sentence.

Janine claims that Gary and ___ saw the meteorite while camping in the mountains last night.

A. she B. he C. her D. him

9. Vlhich of the following sentences is written correctly?

A. Each member ofthe jury is permitted to talk about the case, but it must do so only in the company of the other jurors.

B. Each member of the jury is permitted to talk about the case, but they must do so only in the company of the other jurors.


·Answer keys:

Math:

expressions, including those with parentheses and

8 Add, subtract, mlLltllplY and divide polynomials; divide and

9 Know when and how to apply standard algorithms or concepts, and perform them flexibly, accurately and

10 Translate fluently between lines in the coordinate plane . B and their equations; include predicting visual features of lines by inspection of their equations, determining the equation of the line through two given points, and determining the equation of the line with a given slope

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C

Writing:

written English, including grammar, usage and

3 Support illustrate arguments and explanations D

Demonstrate of the conventions

relevant and evidence

sentence structures to engage achieve cohesion sentences.

7 Grammar, Spelling, Capitalization and Punctuation A Skills: Avoid shifts in verb tense

8 Grammar, Spelling, A Skills: Maintain agreement between pronoun and antecedent

9 Grammar, Spelling, Capitalization and Punctuation D Skills: Avoid shifts

10

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Sentence Skills

The sample study questions listed here will provide you with an opportunity to test your skills in sentence structure. The sentence structure questions will help you better understand your strengths and weaknesses in preparing for future tests. These questions will assess your understanding of grammar, syntax, and clarity in composing sentences.

Consider these test-taking strategies before beginning:

t. Read each question aloud slowly and carefully. Repeat this step if necessary. 2. Take your time. 3. Read all possible answers before making your selection. 4. Write out tbe auswer on scrap paper before making a final selection.

After you complete the questions, please check your work. The answer key is at the end ofthis review. Here you will find the correct answers as well as brief explanations of why those answers are correct. Take the time to review these explanations because this will help you understand your errors.

Sample Question: Choose the correct response: L The daily newspaper informs all readers of current news items that impact your life.

A. that impact their lives B. thai impact everyone's life C. that impact everyone's lives D. No change

The correct answer is A because ''their lives" agrees wiili "all readers." Readers is 3,d person plural; therefore, the pronoun must he 3"' person plural as well. This skill is called pronoun antecedent agreement

- ....--.~.... ---.--- --

Now it is your turn.

J. Steven was regularly lale for class. cQllsequentJy, he missed many assignments. A. class: consequently he B. class; consequently, he C. class, consequently he D. No change.

2. I am positive I did good on my exam. A. I did real good B. I did quite good C. I did well D. No change

3. My sister should ofchosen me as part of her team. A. should have B. should C. should uv D. No change

4. The length oftime students spend preparing for exams is determined by their knowledge ofthe material.

A. spends preparing for exams is determined by his/her knowledge B. spends preparing for exams is determined by their knowledge C. spend preparing for exams is determined by your knowledge D. No change

5. In Chapter 12 ofVOUT text. it explains the effects of global warming. A. In Chapter 12 ofyour text, they explain B. Chapter 12 ofyour text explains C. Ifyou look in Chapter 12, they will explain D. No change

6. Children who have been bitten by dogs are often frightened of them. A. Children, who have been bitten by dogs, are B. Children, who have been bitten, by dogs are C. Children whom are bitten by dogs are D. No change

7. It takes less hours to fly rather than drive to New York. A. It takes lesser hours B. It takes few hours C. It takes fewer hours D. No change

8. Michelle asked," where are mv car keysT A. asked, where are my Car keys? B. asked "where are my car keys"? C. asked, "Where are my car keys?" D. No change

9. Running, walking and to bike are excellent forms of aerobic exercise, A. Running, walking, and biking are B. Running and walking and biking are C. To bike, to run, and walking are D. Nochange

10. After the mother fed the. babv, the father burped her, A, the baby the father burped her. B. the baby, the father burped the child. C. the baby, the father burped it. D. No change

II, Over the last decade, tuition and fees at US colleges have increased dramatically. Although, grants and scholarships are making it easier for students to pay for their education. A. have increased dramatically. However, grants and scholarships are making it easier B. have increased dramatically, however grants and scholarships are making it easier C. have increased dramatically grants and scholarships are making it easier D, No change

12. The Pro-choice supporters believe that!il woman who wants to terminate their lIregnancy should have the right to a free and legal abortion. A. women who want to terminate her pregnancy B. a woman who wants to terminate her pregnancy C. a person who wants to terminate their pregnancy D. No change

J3. Healthy diet and exercise is necessary to lose weight, A. Healthy diet, exercise is necessary B, Exercise and healthy diet is necessary C. Healthy diet and exercise are necessary D. :.10 change

14. The space shuttle Columbia exploded. Killing all seven astronauts aboard. A, Columbia exploded, killing all seven astronauts aboard. B, Columbia exploded. Which killed all seven astronauts aboard, C, Killing all seven astronauts aboard. Columbia exploded D. No change

J5, John Glenn was the first American in iiPl!ge he circled the Earth three times in five hours. A. was the tirst American in space, he circled the Earth B, was the first American in space; he circled the Earth C. was the first American in space. Circling the Earth three times. D. No change

16. Doing my English homework, my computer broke, A. My computer broke doing my homework. B. While doing my homework, my computer broke. C. While I was doing my homework, my computer broke, D. No change

17. The Community Service brochure informs students ofvour Service Learningrequirements for graduation. A, students ofhis Service Learning requirements B. a student of their Service Learning requirements C. students oftheir Service Learning requirements D. No change

18. It snowed heavily, classes were cancelled. A. It snowed heavily classes were cancelled. B. Classes were cancelled it snowed heavily, C. Classes were cancelled because it snowed heavily. D, No change.

19. I love to watch television, plaving video games, and a good book, A. watching television, playing video games, and eating out. B. to watch television, video games, and a good meal. C. watching television, playing video games, and a good meal. D. No change

20. Elderly residents were visited by school children who live in a local nursing home. A. residents who live in a local nursing home were visited by school children. B. residents were visited by school children, living in a local nursing home. C. residents were visited by school children. Who live in a local nursing home. D. No change.

21. The mango was ripe it tasted very sweet. A. The mango was ripe it was tasted very sweet. B. The mango was ripe, it tasted very sweet. C. The mango was ripe, and it tasted very sweet. D. No Change

22. Jane had a throbbing headache, she missed her piano lesson. A. headache, she miss her piano lesson. B. headache, she had missed her piano lesson. C. headache; she missed her piano lesson. D. No Change

23. Each student was asked to voice their opinion. A. Each student was asked to have voiced their opinion. S. Each student was asked to voice his or her opinion. e. Each student was asked to voice there opinion. D. No Change

24.When..inthe hospital. the nurse took good care ofme. A. When I was in the hospital, S. When in hospital, e. When in the hospital; D. No Change

25. A psychologist will give you counseling, but thev will not prescribe medication for you. A. but they cannot prescribe medication for you B. but they will not be prescribing medication for you e. but he or she will not prescribe medication for you D. No Change.

26. Walking in the garden. the roses were verybe!!!lliful. A. the roses were, very beautiful. B. we noticed that the roses were very beautiful. e. and the roses were very beautiful. D. No Change.

27. A pile ofbooks were blocking my view of the picture. A. A pile of books were, blocking B. A pile of books were blocked e. A pile ofbooks was blocking D. No Change.

28. Phvsics deal with the theory ofgravity. A. Physics dealing with the theory ofgravity. B. Physics deal, with the theory of gravity. e. Physics deals with the theory of gravity. D. ),10 Change.

29. Cut the fabric into two pieces, and you should measure it before cutting. A. you should have measured it before cutting. B. measure it before cutting. e. you measure it before culting. D. No Change.

30. Three-fourths ofthe semester are over. A. the semester have been over. B. the semester is over. C. the semester, are over. D. No Change.

31. Sally asked to accompany Pat and me on the museum trip. A. to accompany Pat and I B. to accompany me and Pat C. to accompany I and Pat D. No change

32. Whenever we go to the beach it rains. A. Whenever we go to the beach. B. Whenever we go to the beach-C. Whenever we go to the beach; D. Nochange

33. Either Timothy or Janice wants to use the projector. A. want to use B. wants use C. wants using D. No change

34. John's Labrador puppy badly need a bath. A. needs a bath bad B. badly needs a bath C. need a bath badly D. No change

35. Any student who wants to attend the lecture will need to bring their J.D. A. will need to bring his or her J.D. B. will need to bring the J.D. C. needs to bring their J.D. D. Nochange

36. Evervone has their own unique talent. A. Anyone has their own B. Everyone have their own C. Everyone has his or her own D. No change

37. Andrea chose to major in business, Nathan chose technology. A. in business; B. in business and C. in business D. No change

38. Studies have proven that suffieient sleep is necessary to health,~JhebQ!lY!leeds rest to avoid stress.

A. ,the body needs B, ; the body need C. the body needs D. No change

39. She always spoke good about her brother. A. spoke well B. speaks good C. spoke goodly D. Nochange

40. I feel so badly about your loss. A. badly B. most badly C. so bad D. No change

Answer Key

I. Correct Answer is B. A semi-coJon may be used to separate two independent clauses. Use a commlrafter consequently because in this example, it is used as a transitional word. Without the semicolon, this sentence is a comma splice.

2. Correct Answer is C. Well is the appropriate choice because it is adverb modifYing the verb did. Use good to modifY nouns a good idea.

3. Correct Answer is A. Could have or could've would be examples of appropriate usage.

4. Correct Answer is D. Students, spend, and their are all 3rd person plural and match in agreement. Subjects, verbs, and pronouns must always agree in number and person - in this case, 3,d person plural. .

5. Correct Answer is B. This example tests the clarity or directness of the way the sentence is formed. Beginning a sentence with the subject of the sentence, in this case Chapter 12, often increases clarity for the reader and makes the sentence easier to understand.

6. Correct Answer is D. No commas are needed because the statement who have been bitten by dogs is an essential part of the sentence. Use commas to set of a phrase only when the phrase is not essential to the understanding of the sentence.

7. Correct Answer is C. Use/ewer for anything that can be counted (fewer jobs,fewer cars); use less for concepts or things thought of collectively (less money, less work).

8. Correct Answer is C. Proper punctuation ofquotations is critical. Be aware of the need for commas and appropriate capitalization of source words.

9. Correct Answer is A. All three subjects of the sentence must reflect parallel structure to achieve balance in the sentence.

10. Correct Answer is B. This is an example of unclear reference. Unless her is identified, the reader may think the father burped his wife!

11. Corr~t Answer is A. Error: Sentence Fragment; Although is a subordinating conjunction, making the second sentence incomplete. Sentence A uses a conjunctive adverb However, to introduce an independent clause.

12. Correct Answer Is B. Error: Faulty Pronoun Antecedent Agreement. A woman is a singular noun, but their is a plural pronoun. In Sentence B both a noun a woman and a pronoun her are singular.

13. Correct Answer is C. Error: Faulty Subject - Verb Agreement. Diet and exerciseplural subject; is - a singular noun. In Sentence C plural subject diet and exercise agrees with plural verb are.

14. Correct Answer is A. Error: Sentence Fragment. Killing all seven astronauts aboard is a participial phrase, not a complete sentence. In Sentence A this phrase is combined with the preceding sentence.

15. Correet Answer is B. Error: Run-on Sentence. Both sentences John Glenn was the first American astranaut in space and He circled the Earth three times infive hours are independent clauses. They need to be separated by either a period, or a semicolon. or a comma with a coordinating conjunction. Sentence B uses the semicolon, combining these two ideas into a compound sentence

16. Correct Answer is C. Error: Dangling Modifier. There is no noun or pronoun for the participial phrase Doing my homework to modifY. Sentence C is reworded to include 1, which is now modified by the participial phrase.

17. Correct Answer is C. Error: Inconsistent Viewpoint. Students is a third person plural noun but it was replaced by a second person pronoun your. Sentence C uses a consistent viewpoint. Both students and their use third person viewpoint.

18. Correct Answer is C. Error: Comma Splice Semence. Both 1t snowed heavily and Classes were cancelled are independent clauses, which when separated with a comma result in a comma splice sentence. Sentence C is a complex sentence where the clause Classes were cancelled remains independent, and clause 1t snowed heavily is changed into a dependent one, because it snowed heavi~y.

19. Correct Answer is A, Error: Non-Parallel Construction. To watch television is an infinitive phrase; playing video games is a gerund phrase, and a good book is a noun phrase. All three should be the same grammatical construction. In Sentence A all of them are gerund phrases.

20. Correct Answer is A. Error: Misplaced Modifier. Dependent clause who live in a local nursing home should modifY the subject of the sentence, elderly residents. In this sentence, however, it modifies school children. Sentence A moves this modifier so that it clearly describes residents.

21. Correct Answer is C. Correct punctuation or connecting words should be used between two complete sentences to avoid fused sentences.

22. Correct Answer is C. Using only a comma between two sentences causes comma splice. Inserting a semicolon can remedy that problem.

23. Correct Answer is B. If an indefinite pronoun like each is used as an antecedent, it should be followed by a singular pronoun.

24. Correct Answer is A. When a phrase does not modify anything in the main clause, the sentence can be revised by creating a subject following the meaning of the main clause.

25. Correct Answer is C. There should be consistency in number between a pronoun and its antecedent. A psychologist is singuJar and requires a singular pronoun.

26. Correct Answer is B. Ihe roses did not walk in the garden. The dangling modifier can be revised by stating the implied subject.

27. Correct Answer is C. There should be agreement between subject and verb even though there are other intervening words. A pile is singular.

28. Correct Answer is C. Some nouns like economics and mathematics have plural forms but they take singular verbs.

29. Correct Answer is B. The first part of the sentence is imperative and the second part is in the indicative mood. Consistency of mood should be observed in sentence structu res.

30. Correct Answer is B. The above noun is considered a unit and requires a singular verb.

3J • Correct Answer is D. The sentence is correct as written. The object fonn me is needed in the phrase and should follow the name of the other person.

32. Correct Answer is A. The comma must be used in an introductory clause.

33. Correct Answer is D. The sentence is correct as written. The use ofeither..or makes the subject singular; therefore, the singular verb wants is also necessary.

34. Correct Answer is B. The singular verb fonn is required, as is the adverb "badly" rather than the adjective "bad."

35. Correct Answer is A. Student is singular. Their is plural. A singular noun must be paired with a singular pronoun. In this case, "his or her" is used in order to satisfy gender equity requirements.

36. Correct Answer is C. Everyone is singular and must be paired with another singular pronoun: his or her.

37. Correct Answer is A. The semicolon is needed to join the two independent clauses.

38. Correct Answer is D. The sentence is correct as written. The semicolon is joining two independent clauses.

39. Correct Answer is A. Good is an adjective; well is an adverb. This sentence needs the adverb.

40. Correct Answer is C. The adjective bad rather than the adverb badly is needed with linking verbs.

These questions were created by Dr. Saiyeda Khatun, Professor Ela Lozinski, Dr.Terry Novak, and Professor Donna Thomsen, members ofthe Freshman Studies Department at Johnson & Wales University.

Six skills prepare students to become better readers and for colJege-level courses: o recognizing main ideas. o identifying supporting details. o recognizing implied main ideas and· the central point. o understanding relationships that involve addition and time. n understanding relationships that involve illustration, comparison or contrast, and

cause and effect. o understanding purpose and tone.

MAIN IDEA

In order to become a better and faster reader, recognizing the main idea is the most important skill you can develop.

Think of the main idea as an "urnbrella" idea. It is the author's primary point about a topic. All other material in the paragraph fits under the main idea. In a paragraph, authors often present the main idea to readers in a single sentence called the topic sentence.

Consider this example:

TV violence does affect people in negative ways. Frequent TV watchers are more fearful and suspicious of others. Heavy TV watchers are less upset about real-life violence than non-TV watchers. TV violence increases aggressive behavior in children.

You will see the word topic used in two different ways. First, topic can be used generally to mean the subject of the reading. Second, it can be used as a part of the phrase, topic sentence. In this example, the first sentence tells the reader the general subject or, topiC, of the passage. The second sentence is the topic sentence, and in this case also gives the author's main idea. This sentence tells the reader what the passage is about and gives the main point the author is making.

SUPPORTING DETAILS

Supporting details are reasons, examples, steps, or other kinds of factual evidence that explain a main Idea.


Main idea: Our government should phase out the penny in the economy.

Supporting detail 1: Pennies take up more space than they are worth.

Supporting detail 2: Pennies are a nuisance to the business community

Supporting detail 3: Pennies cost the nation as a whole.

In this case the supporting details give reasons to support the main idea. RECOGNIZING IMPLIED AND STATED IDEAS

Sometimes a selection lacks a topic sentence, but that does not mean it lacks a main idea. The author has simply decided to let the details of the selection suggest the main idea. You must figure out what that implied main Idea Is by deciding upon the point all of the details make when they are all added together.

Passages that imply an idea give supporting details first. The reader must extrapolate (or makes an "educated guess) in order to understand the main Idea. In these sorts of passages the main

idea is the general statement that all of the details make when they are considered as a whole. The main idea must be general enough that all of the details fit into it.


1. The smaller a group is, the more opportunities we have to get to know other people well and to establish close ties with them.

2. Two-person groups are the setting for many of our most intense and influential relationships.

3. In three-person groups, coalltions become pOSSible, with two members joining force against a third member.

4. Five-person groups are large enough so that people feel they can express their emotions freely and even risk antagonizing one another, yet they are small enough so that members show regard for one another's feelings and needs.

Which statement best expresses the unstated main idea of the above sentences?

a. Two-person groups are an important part of our lives. b. A five-person group is better than a two-person group c. The number of people in a group affects relationships within the group. d. Groups playa central part in every human activity, within family, the workplace, and

the government. Explanation:

a. Answer a is too narrow to be the implied idea. It is based on only one of the four supporting details, statement 1.

b. Answer b covers only statements 2 and 4; therefore it is too narrow to be the implied main idea. In addition, it is a conclusion that is not based on the given facts, which say nothing about one group always being better than another.

c. Answer c is a general statement about the number of people in a group and how that number affects a group. It is illustrated by all four of the supporting details. So answer c is the implied main idea.

d. Answer d is true, but it is not what the supporting details are about. The supporting details do not address the part that groups play in society.

If you have trouble focusing in on an implied main idea, remember that finding the topic may help. For instance, you probably soon realized that the topic of the supporting ideas above is the number of people in a group. Then you could have asked yourself, 'What are the supporting details saying about the number of people in a group?" As you thought about the four statements, you would try to find a point about the number of people in a group that is general enough to cover all of the specific detailS.

UNDERSTANDING RELATIONSHIPS THAT INVOLVE ADDITION AND TIME

To help readers understand the main points, authors use two common methods to show relationships among ideas and to make Ideas clear. These two methods are transitions and patterns of organization.

Transitions are words or phrases (like first of all) that show relationships between ideas.

Two forms of transition are words that show;

o addition, contrast, exception. o time or sequence.

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Addition words tell you that writers are adding to their thoughts. The writers are presenting one or more ideas that continue along the same line of thought as a previous idea. Addition words include: furthermore, additionally, next, in addition, etc..

Contrast words show differences between two or more items being compared. Contrast words include: on the other hand, in contrast, despite.

Exception words point out an unusual or unique feature of one Item that is otherwise part of the same main category. Exception words include: however, nevertheless, with the exception of, in the case of.

Time words provide.chronological organization to writing. Time words include: later, during + a specific time period such as a decade, a year, a month, a week, or a century e.g. the 90's, the nineteenth century.

Sequential words provide step-by-step organization to writing. Sequential words include next, first, second, after, before.

UNDERSTANDING RELATIONSHIPS THAT INVOLVE ILLUSTRATION, COMPARISON OR CONTRAST, AND CAUSE AND EFFECT

Illustration is one method of clarifying our ideas. Writers often use examples and illustrations introduced by a phrase such as for example or for instance to demonstrate the point they are trying to make.

Which of these two statements is easier to understand?

1. Even very young children can do household chores. They can run a duster along baseboards or fold napkins for dinner.

2. Even very young children can do household chores. For instance, they can run a duster along baseboards or fold a napkin for dinner.

The second item is easier to understand because the phrase "For instance" tells the reader that there is a relationship between the first and second sentence. The second sentence offers an example of the point the author makes in the first sentence.

COMPARISON AND CONTRAST:

Comparison shows similarities, Contrast shows differences. Writers often use comparison and contrast together as a way of explaining and or analyzing the relationship between or among items, ideas, or people.

Consider the relationship among these sentences as an example of how comparison and contrast can be used together and notice the role that the underlined transitions play in making this relationship clear to the reader:

1. Advertising is part of the strategy manufacturers use to sell their products 2. Manufacturers USe advertising as a way to advertise established products as we.!L,t,,; new

products. 3. New products are generally advertised differently from established products. 4. New products are often introduced with "informational" advertising telling what the products

are, why they are needed, and where they are available. 5. Established products on the other hand can rely on "reminder" advertisements, which

provide little hard information about the product.

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The first sentence of this paragraph gives the general, or main, idea. The second sentence uses "as well as" to signal that the writer is showing a similarity between the way new and established products are advertised. The word 'differently" in the third sentence and "on the other hand in the fifth sentence shows that the writer is also showing differences in the way these two types of prod ucts a re advertised.

Cause/Effect

Information that falls into a cause-effect pattern addresses itself to the question "Why does an event happen?" and "What are the results of an event?" Often authors try to tell about events in a way that explains both what happened and why.

Consider how this passage reflects the relationship between cause and effect:

In 1970 about sixty small and medium-sized factories in the United States adopted a fourday workweek. According to the plan, workers work forty hours but instead of the usual five-day week, they now work only four days. Workers are enthusiastic about the three-day weekly vacation. According to management, productivity has increased about 18% since the inception of the new plan. Absenteeism has dropped by 69% and lateness is almost non-existent.

What are the effects being discussed in this passage?

A. shorter work weeks B. sixty small and medium-sized factories decided to try the four-day work week C. the seventies were a time of change D. increased productivity and decreases in absenteeism and tardiness

Explanation: a. Answer a gives the topic of the passage but does not discuss cause or effect. b. Answer b explains who was involved in this experiment, but does not show a

cause/effect relationship. c. Answer c is true, but is not discussed in this passage. d. Answer d explains the results of the four-day workweek.

TONE

A writer's tone reveals the attitUde he or she has toward a subject. Tone is expressed through the words and details the author selects. Just as a speaker's voice can project a range of feelings, a writer's voice can project one or mOre tones, or feelings: anger, sympathy, hopefulness, sadness, respect, dislike and so on. Understanding tone is then an important part of understanding what an author has written.

To illustrate the difference a writer can express in tone, consider the following comments made by workers in a fast food restaurant.

"1 hate this job. The customers are rude, the managers are idiots, and the food smells like dog chow." (Tone: bitter, angry.)

"I have no doubt that flipping burgers and toasting buns will prepare f'1e for a top position on Wall Street." (Tone: mocking, sarcastic.)

"r Jove working at Burger Barn. r meet Interesting people, earn extra money, and get to eat all the chicken nuggets I want when I go on break." (Tone: enthusiastic, positive.)

Words that express tone reflect a feeling or judgment. Some words that describe tone include: amused, angry, ashamed, praiSing, and excited.

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Reading Diagnostic

The following contains 20 questions, a section with Reading Strategies that provides explanations of all problems included on the test, and a Key with suggestions for review that you can use for the questions you missed.

1. ANSWER EACH OF THE 20 QUESTIONS ON THE ANSWER SHEET PROVIDED 2. . SCORE YOUR TEST WITH THE KEY THAT IS PROVIDED AND EVALUATE

YOUR SCORE USING THE SCALE. 3. IF YOU MADE LESS THAN 70%, USE THE SECTIONS FROM THE READING

STRATEGIES SECTION IN PARENTHESES FOLLOWING THE CORRECT ANSWERS ON THE KEY TO REVIEW THE QUESTIONS YOU MISSED.

4. AFTER YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE REVIEW, TAKE THE TEST AGAIN

1. Read the statements below and then choose the best answer to the question from the list of lettered choices that follows.

Sometimes when we don't get enough sleep we become very short-tempered.

It is important to set a time to go to bed that is realistic.

How are these two sentences related?

A. The first sentence explains the meaning of the second. B. The second sentence explains why a lack of sleep affects us. C. The second sentence contradicts the first. D. The second sentence proposes a solution.

2. Read the statements below and then choose the best answer to the question from the list of lettered chOices that follows.

Most people collect Star Wars tOYsJQr sentimental reasons.

Some peoPle collect them strictly to make money.

What is the relationship between the two sentences?

A. cause & effect B. contrast C. repetition D. statement & example

3. Answer the question based on what is stated or implied.

There are two kinds of jewelry that I do. There is commercial jewelry-class rings, necklaces, the kinds of things most people wear. I sell these items to meet my expenses for raw materials, supplies, and to make my living. The other, more creative work I do makes me feel that I am developing as a craftsperson.

The author of this passage implies that:

A. artists are poor. B. there is no market for creative work. C. . rings and necklaces can not be creative. D. commercial and creative work fulfill different needs for the artist.

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4. Read the passage below and choose the one organizational pattern from the lettered choices following the passage that best describes the way the author organized this paragraph?

Old you know that the U.s. postal service handles 40% of the world's mail volume? Japan Is the second largest carrier of cards and letters, but It handles only 8% of the world's mail. Perhaps the reason that the U.S. handles such a large volume of mail is the large number of personal letters American citizens write. Personal letters do not require a strict format, but they do have a few guidelines. The date should be written at the top of the letter, either in the center or in the right· hand corner. The salutation, "Dear __," should begin the letter and should be followed by a comma instead of a colon which is used in the salutation of a business letter. The body of the letter should sound like you, and say the things you intend to say. UnlIke In a business letter, you can use slang words, dashes, smiley faces, sentence fragments, and other kinds of casual forms of communication. Closing for personal letters are also a matter of personal preference. While a business letter requires you to use more formal closings such as "Sincerely," "Regards," or "Best Wishes," a personal letter can end with more casual phrases such as "Later," "Talk to you Soon," or "Bye." As with the rest of the letter, the closing should express your own feelings.

A. Cause and Effect B. Example C. _ Comparison and Contrast D. Humor


Jenny does not like cake.

She does not like to bake It. to ice It. or to eat it.

What does the second sentence do?

A. It states the cause of the first. B. It emphasizes what is stated in the first. C. It compares the three things Jenny does not like about cake. D. It draws a conclusion about Jenny.

6. Read the sentences below and then choose the best answer to the question from the list of lettered choices that follows. .

When we write a check that we know is gOing to "bounce," we are [n fact perfonning a criminal act.

It is a crime to knowinglv write a 'hotN check. one we know we don't have sufficient funds to cover.

What does the second statement do?

A. It provides supporting evidence for the first statement. B. It draws a conclusion from the first sentence. C. It restates the central idea of the first sentence. D. It provides a contradictory point of view.


The new Dance Tunes CD has proved to be very popular.

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It has sold 80,000 copies over the last year.

How are these two sentences related?

A. The first sentence explains the meaning of the second. B. The second sentence explains why the CD is popular. C. The second sentence provides evidence of the first. D. The first sentence contradicts the second.

8. Read the passage below and then choose the best answer to the question from the list of lettered choices that follows.

Before the invention of automobiles and airplanes travel was a slow process. When traveling long distances families would be out of communication until the travelers reached their destination. Sometimes people lost touch with each other permanently.

The author would most likely continue the passage with which of the following sentences?

A. Advances in communication have helped travelers stay in communication. B. Airplanes make travel more fun C. Driving a car helps famHies stay in touch. D. Cars can be used to travel comfortably.


Scuba diving is the most exhilarating experience I have ever had. The first time I went, the dark mirror of the water beckoned me to drop from the side of the boat. r jumped feet first and entered a brightly colored world populated with fish, plants, and objects I had never dreamed of.

Which of the following best describes the mood of the author after having this experience? A. Bored B. "Anxious C. Excited D. Serene


Did you know that a half-gallon milk container holds about $50.00 In pennies? While all Investment counselors realize that we must accumulate money in order to save, most recommend different kinds of investments for people who are in different stages of life. Older investors, those with limited funds to invest, or people with greater financial and family commitments, should take fewer risks. Younger, wealthier, and unmarried investors can afford to venture Into the unknown.

Which of the following best describes the main idea of this passage?

A. A penny saved is a penny earned. B. Our ages and stage of life are part of what determines the investments that are best

for us. C. Old people have the most money. D. Young people should concentrate on collecting pennies.

1 L Read the passage below and choose then choose the best answer to the question. Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in this passage.

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Experienced truck drivers often travel in a convoy-a group of trucks that are traveling to the same part of the country. Convoys can help truckers to stay alert.

The author implies that professional long-distance truck drivers may avoid traveling alone because:

A. they might drive too fast. B. they want to arrive before anyone else, C. accidents happen more frequently to lone truck drivers than to car drivers who travel

alone. . D. long-distance travel can cause drowsiness.

12. Read the passage below and choose then choose the best answer to the question.

Huge beasts such as the dinosaur have never really become extinct. Mothra, a giant caterpillar who later becomes a moth, destroys Tokyo, and stars in the 1962 Japanese film named for him. Mothra is born, dies, and reborn regularly on classic movie channels. In Japan Mothra is one of the most popular films ever made. Mothra has survived the creation of more current scary creatures such as giant apes, extraterrestrial beings and swamp creatures. More than 30 years after his creation, Mothra still lives.

The main subject of the passage is:

A. the reaSons that fads do not endure. B. the lasting appeal of Mathra. C, the difficulty of marketing good horror movies. D. old models for creatures are stili used oecause making new monsters is expensive.

13, Two underlined sentences are followed by a question or statement. Read the sentences, and then choose the best answer to the question or the best completion of the statement.

Anxious to ensure that America would depart from European traditions regarding relicion and royalty. the early U ,5 ...~ould be described as a place that focused more on work than on the entertainment offered by spectacle .i:lnd ceremony in the Old World,

However. national celebrations such as tile lighting of the White House Christmas Tree and the ceremonies used to swear in new federal officials five the American oeoDle some experiences that are based upon national tradition,

What does the second sentence do?

A. It cancels the meaning of the first sentence B. It provides an example of the first·sentence. C. It adds more detail to the first sentence. D, It offers an exception to the information given in the first sentence.

14. Read the passage below and choose then choose the best answer to the question.

The Earth's past climate-including temperature and elements in the atmosphere-has recently been studied by analyzing ice samples from Greenland and Antarctica. The air bubbles in the ice have shown that, over the past 160,000 years, there has been a close correlation between temperature changes and level of natural greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane. One recent analYSis from Greenland showed that at the end of the last glaCial period (when the great ice sheets !:legan to retreat to their present position), temperatures in southern Greenland rose from 5 to 7 degrees in about 100 years.

Air bubbles are not the only method of determining characteristics of the Earth's anCient climate history. Analysis of dust layers from ancient volcanic activity is another such method; as is the study of ice cores, which interpret past solar activity that may have affected our climate.

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This passage states that:

A. the Greenhouse effect is destroying the planet's atmosphere. B. temperatures in Greenland have been unusually stable over the past 100 years. C. there is more than one kind of information that scientists can use to determine the

characteristics of the Earth's early climate. D. solar energy is the wave of the future.

15. Two passages are followed by a question or statement. Read the passages, then choose the best answer to the question or the best completion of the statement.

Before video cameras were widely used, home and business owners had to rely only on written reports and photos as a way to document their valuables for insurance purposes. This form of documentation was difficult for some insurance policy holders. They found it was easy to lose lists, forget to add new items they purchased, or delete items they no longer had. As a result these insurance inventories were often inaccurate.

While video taping is not an option for every home or business owner, this kind of insurance documentation is helpful for some.

How are these passages related?

A. They repeat the same idea. B. They contradict one another. C. They compare two forms of written documentation. D. They present a problem and a solution.

16. Two underlined sentences are followed by a question or a statement. Read the sentences, and then choose the best answer to the question or the best completion of the statement.

PubliC speaking is very different from everyday conversation.

First of aiL speeches are much more structured than a typic:al informal discussion.

How are these sentences related?

A. Sentence two offers support for the statement made in the first sentence. B. Sentence two contradicts the statement made in the first sentence. C. Sentence two shows an exception to the first sentence D. Sentence two compares two kinds of speeches.

17. Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in these passages.

French physiCist Charles Fabry found ozone gas in the atmosphere in 1913. At room temperature, ozone is a colorless gas; it condenses to a dark blue liquid at -170 0 F. At temperatures above the boiling pOint of water, 2120 F, it decomposes.

Ozone is all around us. After a thunderstorm, or around electrical eqUipment, ozone is often detected as a sharp odor. Ozone is used as a strong oxidizing agent, a bleaching agent, and to sterilize drinking water. This gas is also highly reactive. For example, rubber insulation around a car's spark plug wires will need to be replaced eventually, due to the small amounts of ozone produced when electriCity flows from the engine to the plug.

These passages imply that:

A. Ozone is the result of pollution.

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B. High ozone levels in the atmosphere will cause large numbers of people to buy new car batteries.

C. Ozone has no practical uses. D. Ozone is a natural part of the Earth's atmosphere.

18. Read the passages below, and then choose the best answer to the question. Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in these passages.

Many people who have come close to death from drowning, cardiac arrest, or other causes have described near-death experiences-profound, subjective events that sometimes result in dramatic changes in values, beliefs, behavior, and attitudes toward life and death. These experiences often include a new clarity of thinking, a feeling of well being, a sense of being out of the body, and visions of bright light or mystical encounters. Such experiences have been reported by an estimated 30 to 40 percent of hospital patients who were revived after coming close to death and about 5 percent of adult Americans in a nationwide poll. Near-death experiences have been explained as a response to a perceived threat of death (a psychological theory); as a result of biological states that accompany the process of dying (a physiological theory); and as a foretaste of an actual state of bliss after death (a transcendental theory). The primary purpose of this passage is to:

A. entertain B. persuade C. inform D. . express disbelief in the afterlife

19. Read the passages below and choose then choose the best answer to the question. Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in these passages.

In most cases little birds lay little eggs. The kiwi is an astonishing exception to this rule-it is a smallish bird that lays ca big egg. The kiwi, a flightless bird found in New Zealand, weighs about four pounds, and its egg weighs, believe it or not, about one pound. That is one-fourth of the bird's body weight, If an ostrich laid an egg that was in the same proportion to the ostrich as the kiwi egg is to the kiwi, an ostrich egg would weigh a whopping seventy-five pounds instead of the usual three pounds.

Which statement below best describes the organizational method used in this passage? A. description B. comparison /contrast. C. chronological D. cause/effect

20. Read the passages below, and then choose the best answer to the question. Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in these passages.

The rise in personal debt in recent years is due largely to aggressive and unwarranted hustling by credit-card companies. Between 1990 and 1996, credit card debt doubled. Today It is still riSing. Credit cards with interest rates reaching nearly 20 percent are a remarkably lucrative part of the loan business. Debtors pay an average of $1,000 a year in interest and fees alone, money that could instead have been used for a college or retirement fund. USing subtle tactics to tempt unwary consumers to borrow, credit-card companies have led consumers to hold more cards and to fork over a bigger and bigger fraction of their income to the companies.

Which statement best reflects the organization used in this passage? A. cause/effect B. comparison/ contrast C. description D. expla nation

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ANSWER SHEET

Write in the letter of your answer next to the number that corresponds to each question.

1. 11.

2. 12.

3. 13.

4. 14.

5. 15.

6. 16.

7. 17.

8. 18. ~---

9. 1'9.

10. 20.

I J

KEY

Grade your test and evaluate your score using the scale provided below. Review the questions you missed in the Reading Strategies sections indicated in parentheses following the correct answer.

Scale: A=18-20 B=16-17 C=14-15 0=12-13 F=11 and below (90-100%) (80-89%) (70-79%) (69-59%) (58-0%)

1. D. (Cause/Effect) 11. D. (Main Idea)

2. B. (Comparison/Contrast) 12. B. (Main Idea)

3. D. (Implied and Stated Ideas) 13. D. (Exception)

4. C. (Comp';Cont.) 14. C. (Main Idea)

5. B. (Supporting Detaifs) 15. D. (Cause/Effect)

6. C. (Main Idea) 16. A. (Supporting Details)

7. C. (Supporting Details) 17. D. (Main Idea)

8. A. (Main Idea) 18. C. (Main Idea)

9. C. (Tone) 19. B. (Comp./Cont.)

10. B. (Main Idea) 20. A. (Cause/Effect)

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MDC P.E.R.T. Exam & Solutions